Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Climate is not static, nor should we be
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert.
Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm.
What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds.
Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes.
The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up.
Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being.
Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks.
Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be.
Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures.
Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says.
By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes.
Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks.
Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate.
The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities.
And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia.
Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag.
But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis.
Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging.
Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
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Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Fun police': Council move slammed
A local council has taken drastic action to stamp out a decades-old pastime which has delighted generations, after ratepayers were stung thousands to repair the damage left behind. The City of Gold Coast council announced it will install multiple sandstone terraces across Kirra and Burleigh Hills to prevent people from creating a 'mudslide' by sliding down the grass area during rain or storms. The damage bill has cost ratepayers thousands to replace the grass destroyed from mudslides, which left many locals disgusted by the mess left behind after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The City of Gold Coast will install sandstone block terraces across Kirra and Burleigh Hills to prevent people from using the area for mudslides. Gold Coast City Credit: Supplied Footage of a muddy North Burleigh Hill showed the area strewn with boogie boards and sheets of cardboard from residents that slid through the mud. One resident posted on social media it stunk like a sewer and was disappointed to see all the boards left everywhere. 'I can say all those that slid down it will have diarrhoea for weeks,' she captioned in a video on Instagram. City of Gold Coast councillor Gail O'Neil posted on Facebook that Kirra and North Burleigh Hills were turned into dangerous mudslides during the cyclone. 'Not only did this cause significant damage to the parks, but it also created serious safety concerns,' she said. 'This has been an ongoing issue for years with both hills continually having to be fixed after storms, using rate payers money to bring them back to an acceptable standard each time. 'To help deter this behaviour in future weather events, the City has made the decision to reshape and strengthen the hillsides, making them more resilient and much safer for the community.' The area was littered with boards after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred angering residents. Credit: Supplied The council will install sandstone block terraces across the hills to prevent people from creating mudslides and to reduce the risk of erosion. The work is expected to start later this month and will be finished by mid-October. But the work has had a mixed reaction from locals who have enjoyed the mudslides during rain events for decades. Some residents believe the money could be better spent labelling the city the 'fun police.' 'Grass grows very quickly. I'm sure Gold Coast council has plenty of rate money to spend on better things,' one person commented. Residents had a mixed reaction about the City's plan with some people commenting there was better things to spend the money on. ABC News Credit: ABC 'Let the kids have a bit of fun. The grass has grown back! Money better spent putting in a second bike track from Kirra to Greenmount,' another person said. 'That's absurd. It's been there for thousands of years and done an all-right job,' a person said. 'Rather tax dollars go to fixing the grass on a hill from some locals having fun than some silly new stadium,' another person commented. City of Gold Coast have been contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Insurance catastrophe': premium price hikes hit flood-prone communities
Port Macquarie's North Shore residents say they will continue to live in the 'idyllic' riverside location despite ongoing insurance price hikes. The North Shore area can only be accessed via a ferry service from the mainland of Port Macquarie. It has been hit hard by two recent flood events including in March 2021 and most recently in May. Claims made by North Shore residents, as well as thousands of others across the Mid North Coast, prompted an 'insurance catastrophe' call for flood-hit communities in May. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO, Andrew Hall, said the decision to elevate the classification from a "Significant Event" was based on direct feedback from the ground and the severity of the damage across the region. Read more: Disaster deadline: Natural disasters, severe weather cause coastal and riverine erosion Jo and Steve Taylor have lived on Port Macquarie's North Shore since 2016. They say the insurance situation is only 'getting worse' due to ongoing premium price hikes but they won't consider moving. "We've got such a nice community over here that the benefits of the North Shore probably at this stage outweigh that," Mr Taylor said. They've heard from other residents that some insurance companies won't let people opt out of flood coverage, which can hike up home insurance by thousands of dollars - as much as $30,000 in some cases. The Taylors have heard from other residents some companies are refusing to insure some North Shore properties at all. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said most home insurance policies now automatically include flood cover due to climate change risks so that policyholders are better protected, though some insurers allow customers to opt out. "While no Australian regions are uninsurable, extreme weather events are driving premium increases," she said. The Taylors say residents feel the impact of flooding, even if it's just a minor flood, as electricity and water is switched off. They say it's vital that residents have a flood plan that includes what supplies to stock up on, as well as having access to generators to ensure they can sit out any future natural disaster. The Taylors say the entire North Shore area is being treated as a high-risk flood area, without taking into consideration houses on a 'case by case' basis. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said high-risk flood areas generally incur higher insurance premiums, particularly properties near rivers and streams, which is why it is essential that governments at all levels work with the industry to drive down risk. "Residents are encouraged to check council flood maps to assess their property's risk," she said. Mr Taylor said technology should be able to be utilised in an effective way to 'pinpoint' risk but he doesn't believe that's happening right now. "How do we know the premium that they're charging us is correct for all of those risks?," he said. Lifestyle Group real estate agent Brendan Stead said he recently sold a property on the North Shore, which demonstrates demand for housing remains strong despite the recent flooding event. The property at 14 Shoreline Drive sold for $910,000 after being on the market for 38 days. Mr Stead said this time on the market was quicker than Port Macquarie's average of around 42 days. The previous owners bought the property in 2015 for $499,000. "That's strong testament to the fact that at the end of the day [that property is still] valuable even though they're in that flood zone," he said. Legally, real estate agents have to declare if a listed property has been impacted by flood or fire in the past five years. Mr Stead said a lot of homes on the North Shore are built to handle extreme weather events, by using certain materials or through having a double-storey design. The Insurance Council is calling for a $30 billion, 10-year Flood Defence Fund to be invested across the most at-risk river catchments along the east coast, including the Mid-North Coast. "The only sustainable way to moderate rising costs is through risk mitigation via industry-government collaboration on household-level improvements and community infrastructure like levees," the Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Australian homes could be rated on their vulnerability to bushfires, floods and other climate risks in a move that would keep buyers from uninsurable properties. A resilience rating is among suggestions released by the Productivity Commission to manage the costs of climate change and cutting emissions to "free up resources for more productive activity". Port Macquarie's North Shore residents say they will continue to live in the 'idyllic' riverside location despite ongoing insurance price hikes. The North Shore area can only be accessed via a ferry service from the mainland of Port Macquarie. It has been hit hard by two recent flood events including in March 2021 and most recently in May. Claims made by North Shore residents, as well as thousands of others across the Mid North Coast, prompted an 'insurance catastrophe' call for flood-hit communities in May. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO, Andrew Hall, said the decision to elevate the classification from a "Significant Event" was based on direct feedback from the ground and the severity of the damage across the region. Read more: Disaster deadline: Natural disasters, severe weather cause coastal and riverine erosion Jo and Steve Taylor have lived on Port Macquarie's North Shore since 2016. They say the insurance situation is only 'getting worse' due to ongoing premium price hikes but they won't consider moving. "We've got such a nice community over here that the benefits of the North Shore probably at this stage outweigh that," Mr Taylor said. They've heard from other residents that some insurance companies won't let people opt out of flood coverage, which can hike up home insurance by thousands of dollars - as much as $30,000 in some cases. The Taylors have heard from other residents some companies are refusing to insure some North Shore properties at all. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said most home insurance policies now automatically include flood cover due to climate change risks so that policyholders are better protected, though some insurers allow customers to opt out. "While no Australian regions are uninsurable, extreme weather events are driving premium increases," she said. The Taylors say residents feel the impact of flooding, even if it's just a minor flood, as electricity and water is switched off. They say it's vital that residents have a flood plan that includes what supplies to stock up on, as well as having access to generators to ensure they can sit out any future natural disaster. The Taylors say the entire North Shore area is being treated as a high-risk flood area, without taking into consideration houses on a 'case by case' basis. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said high-risk flood areas generally incur higher insurance premiums, particularly properties near rivers and streams, which is why it is essential that governments at all levels work with the industry to drive down risk. "Residents are encouraged to check council flood maps to assess their property's risk," she said. Mr Taylor said technology should be able to be utilised in an effective way to 'pinpoint' risk but he doesn't believe that's happening right now. "How do we know the premium that they're charging us is correct for all of those risks?," he said. Lifestyle Group real estate agent Brendan Stead said he recently sold a property on the North Shore, which demonstrates demand for housing remains strong despite the recent flooding event. The property at 14 Shoreline Drive sold for $910,000 after being on the market for 38 days. Mr Stead said this time on the market was quicker than Port Macquarie's average of around 42 days. The previous owners bought the property in 2015 for $499,000. "That's strong testament to the fact that at the end of the day [that property is still] valuable even though they're in that flood zone," he said. Legally, real estate agents have to declare if a listed property has been impacted by flood or fire in the past five years. Mr Stead said a lot of homes on the North Shore are built to handle extreme weather events, by using certain materials or through having a double-storey design. The Insurance Council is calling for a $30 billion, 10-year Flood Defence Fund to be invested across the most at-risk river catchments along the east coast, including the Mid-North Coast. "The only sustainable way to moderate rising costs is through risk mitigation via industry-government collaboration on household-level improvements and community infrastructure like levees," the Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Australian homes could be rated on their vulnerability to bushfires, floods and other climate risks in a move that would keep buyers from uninsurable properties. A resilience rating is among suggestions released by the Productivity Commission to manage the costs of climate change and cutting emissions to "free up resources for more productive activity". Port Macquarie's North Shore residents say they will continue to live in the 'idyllic' riverside location despite ongoing insurance price hikes. The North Shore area can only be accessed via a ferry service from the mainland of Port Macquarie. It has been hit hard by two recent flood events including in March 2021 and most recently in May. Claims made by North Shore residents, as well as thousands of others across the Mid North Coast, prompted an 'insurance catastrophe' call for flood-hit communities in May. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO, Andrew Hall, said the decision to elevate the classification from a "Significant Event" was based on direct feedback from the ground and the severity of the damage across the region. Read more: Disaster deadline: Natural disasters, severe weather cause coastal and riverine erosion Jo and Steve Taylor have lived on Port Macquarie's North Shore since 2016. They say the insurance situation is only 'getting worse' due to ongoing premium price hikes but they won't consider moving. "We've got such a nice community over here that the benefits of the North Shore probably at this stage outweigh that," Mr Taylor said. They've heard from other residents that some insurance companies won't let people opt out of flood coverage, which can hike up home insurance by thousands of dollars - as much as $30,000 in some cases. The Taylors have heard from other residents some companies are refusing to insure some North Shore properties at all. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said most home insurance policies now automatically include flood cover due to climate change risks so that policyholders are better protected, though some insurers allow customers to opt out. "While no Australian regions are uninsurable, extreme weather events are driving premium increases," she said. The Taylors say residents feel the impact of flooding, even if it's just a minor flood, as electricity and water is switched off. They say it's vital that residents have a flood plan that includes what supplies to stock up on, as well as having access to generators to ensure they can sit out any future natural disaster. The Taylors say the entire North Shore area is being treated as a high-risk flood area, without taking into consideration houses on a 'case by case' basis. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said high-risk flood areas generally incur higher insurance premiums, particularly properties near rivers and streams, which is why it is essential that governments at all levels work with the industry to drive down risk. "Residents are encouraged to check council flood maps to assess their property's risk," she said. Mr Taylor said technology should be able to be utilised in an effective way to 'pinpoint' risk but he doesn't believe that's happening right now. "How do we know the premium that they're charging us is correct for all of those risks?," he said. Lifestyle Group real estate agent Brendan Stead said he recently sold a property on the North Shore, which demonstrates demand for housing remains strong despite the recent flooding event. The property at 14 Shoreline Drive sold for $910,000 after being on the market for 38 days. Mr Stead said this time on the market was quicker than Port Macquarie's average of around 42 days. The previous owners bought the property in 2015 for $499,000. "That's strong testament to the fact that at the end of the day [that property is still] valuable even though they're in that flood zone," he said. Legally, real estate agents have to declare if a listed property has been impacted by flood or fire in the past five years. Mr Stead said a lot of homes on the North Shore are built to handle extreme weather events, by using certain materials or through having a double-storey design. The Insurance Council is calling for a $30 billion, 10-year Flood Defence Fund to be invested across the most at-risk river catchments along the east coast, including the Mid-North Coast. "The only sustainable way to moderate rising costs is through risk mitigation via industry-government collaboration on household-level improvements and community infrastructure like levees," the Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Australian homes could be rated on their vulnerability to bushfires, floods and other climate risks in a move that would keep buyers from uninsurable properties. A resilience rating is among suggestions released by the Productivity Commission to manage the costs of climate change and cutting emissions to "free up resources for more productive activity". Port Macquarie's North Shore residents say they will continue to live in the 'idyllic' riverside location despite ongoing insurance price hikes. The North Shore area can only be accessed via a ferry service from the mainland of Port Macquarie. It has been hit hard by two recent flood events including in March 2021 and most recently in May. Claims made by North Shore residents, as well as thousands of others across the Mid North Coast, prompted an 'insurance catastrophe' call for flood-hit communities in May. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO, Andrew Hall, said the decision to elevate the classification from a "Significant Event" was based on direct feedback from the ground and the severity of the damage across the region. Read more: Disaster deadline: Natural disasters, severe weather cause coastal and riverine erosion Jo and Steve Taylor have lived on Port Macquarie's North Shore since 2016. They say the insurance situation is only 'getting worse' due to ongoing premium price hikes but they won't consider moving. "We've got such a nice community over here that the benefits of the North Shore probably at this stage outweigh that," Mr Taylor said. They've heard from other residents that some insurance companies won't let people opt out of flood coverage, which can hike up home insurance by thousands of dollars - as much as $30,000 in some cases. The Taylors have heard from other residents some companies are refusing to insure some North Shore properties at all. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said most home insurance policies now automatically include flood cover due to climate change risks so that policyholders are better protected, though some insurers allow customers to opt out. "While no Australian regions are uninsurable, extreme weather events are driving premium increases," she said. The Taylors say residents feel the impact of flooding, even if it's just a minor flood, as electricity and water is switched off. They say it's vital that residents have a flood plan that includes what supplies to stock up on, as well as having access to generators to ensure they can sit out any future natural disaster. The Taylors say the entire North Shore area is being treated as a high-risk flood area, without taking into consideration houses on a 'case by case' basis. An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said high-risk flood areas generally incur higher insurance premiums, particularly properties near rivers and streams, which is why it is essential that governments at all levels work with the industry to drive down risk. "Residents are encouraged to check council flood maps to assess their property's risk," she said. Mr Taylor said technology should be able to be utilised in an effective way to 'pinpoint' risk but he doesn't believe that's happening right now. "How do we know the premium that they're charging us is correct for all of those risks?," he said. Lifestyle Group real estate agent Brendan Stead said he recently sold a property on the North Shore, which demonstrates demand for housing remains strong despite the recent flooding event. The property at 14 Shoreline Drive sold for $910,000 after being on the market for 38 days. Mr Stead said this time on the market was quicker than Port Macquarie's average of around 42 days. The previous owners bought the property in 2015 for $499,000. "That's strong testament to the fact that at the end of the day [that property is still] valuable even though they're in that flood zone," he said. Legally, real estate agents have to declare if a listed property has been impacted by flood or fire in the past five years. Mr Stead said a lot of homes on the North Shore are built to handle extreme weather events, by using certain materials or through having a double-storey design. The Insurance Council is calling for a $30 billion, 10-year Flood Defence Fund to be invested across the most at-risk river catchments along the east coast, including the Mid-North Coast. "The only sustainable way to moderate rising costs is through risk mitigation via industry-government collaboration on household-level improvements and community infrastructure like levees," the Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Australian homes could be rated on their vulnerability to bushfires, floods and other climate risks in a move that would keep buyers from uninsurable properties. A resilience rating is among suggestions released by the Productivity Commission to manage the costs of climate change and cutting emissions to "free up resources for more productive activity".
The Advertiser
05-08-2025
- The Advertiser
Flood, fire, erosion: How do we protect ourselves against future disaster?
Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
